Chance operated peg element projecting device

ABSTRACT

This invention is a game apparatus comprising a first rotatable horizontal disc, a second rotatable horizontal disc with both discs rotating about the same axis and means to rotate both discs either at the same rate or at different rates of angular velocity. A peg, the upper portions of which is shaped in the caricature of a head, is inserted into the vertical hole at the pivot of the rotatable discs, against a coiled compression spring and this peg is restrained by a hidden catch mechanism from being vertically ejected by the compression spring. A series of holes are located about the periphery of the top of the apparatus, and the several players, in turn, insert pegs into these holes after the discs have come to rest seeking to hit the hidden catch member. When the hidden catch member is touched by the peg of the successful player, the headed peg at the axis of the discs is ejected up into the air by the coiled compression spring.

[4 1 Jan. 9, 1973 [54] CHANCE OPERATED PEG ELEMENT PROJECTING DEVICE [75] Inventor: Arnold Coby, Bronx, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization,

Inc., New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: July 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 165,956

[52] U.S. Cl. ..273/138 R, 124/33 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 71/00 [58] Field of Search ..273/138 R, I M 13 8 A, 14Z-HAQPQ R, 273/142 A, 142 B, 142 C, 142 D, 142 E, 142

F, 142 G, 142 H, 142 J, 142 JA,142 JB,142

JC, 142 JD, 142 K, 139, 141 R, 141 A, 1 R;

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 542,950 12/1955 Belgium ..124/16 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechs le Assistant Examiner-Arnold W. Kramer Attorney-Howard l. Podell [57] ABSTRACT different rates of angmar velocity. A peg, the upper portions of which is shaped in the caricature of a head, is inserted into the vertical hole at the pivot of the rotatable discs, against a coiled compression spring and this peg is restrained by a hidden catch 124/16, 33; 46/145 mechanism from being vertically ejected by the compresslon spring. A series of holes are located about the [56] References Cited periphery of the top of the apparatus, and the several players, in turn, insert pegs into these holes after the UNITED STATES PATENTS discs have come to rest seeking to hit the hidden catch member. When the hidden catch member is touched Koegle R X the of the uccessful player, the headed at 1,617,831 2/1927 wolke "273/142 HA X the axis of the discs is ejected up into the air by the 1,892,664 i/l933 Eyles ..273/142 HA coiled compression Spring. 2,565,557 8/1951 Guimond ..273/142 HA 3,479,035 11/1969 Glass et al ..273/138 R 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 23 I 54 E0 22 1E PATENTEDJAI 9 I975 3, 709,500

INVENTOR. A R/VOL 0 C 08) AGENT CHANCE OPERATED PEG ELEMENT PROJECTING DEVICE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention is a game mechanism which I call Heads Up, which assist young children in developing manipulative skills with their fingers, while keeping their interest heightened by the dramatic action of the mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1' is a vertical cross section of the game apparatus through the central axis;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the peg which is inserted into the hollow pivot of the rotating mechanism of the game apparatus; and

FIG. 4 is a front view of a pin which is used to cause both discs of the machine to rotate together.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, as shown in FIG. 1, disc is fixed to shaft 1 1 which comes to a point at 12 with conical section 13 fitting loosely inside the female conical surface 23 of base 20, such that disc 10 can freely rotate on pointed tip 12 with regard to the fixed base 20.

Above disc 10 is disc 40 with circular sides 41 which rests freely on circular top 30 of base 20, and the tipped edge 44 of the sides 41 of disc 40 rotate freely in circular groove 34 of the top 30 of base 20. When peg 60 is inserted into hole 62 of upper disc 40, and upper disc 40 caused to rotate until hole 62 of the upper disc 40 is aligned with hole 63 of lower disc 10, peg 60 can now be inserted into both holes and serve as a handle to manually rotate both discs at the same rate of speed. Upon removing peg 60 from holes 62 and 63, the two discs 40 and 10 will decelerate at different speeds because the frictional torque created by edge tips 44 rotating in groove 34, is greater than the frictional torque of tip 12 rotating at the vertex 22 of the female conical bearing 23. Consequently upper disc 40 will come to rest prior to the cessation of rotation of lower disc 10, thus effectively concealing the angular orientation of disc 10 with regards to either upper disc 40, or the fixed top 30 of base 20.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, radial arms 13a, 13b and 14 are fastened to the shaft 11 of lower disc 10. Radial arms 13a and 13b are false" operators. A pin 52 which is inserted through hole 350 in top 30 results only in bending extension 8 of arm 13a. Extension 8 is hinged at and so cannot apply any appreciable force against the shaft 11 of disc 10. Radial arm 14 is a true operator and when depressed, by inserting a pin 52 through hole 35b in top 30, serves to release peg 50, which releases compressed spring 9, ejecting peg 50 out of hole 71 in shaft 11, and causing peg 50 to fly into the air. Tension spring 17 serves to maintain arm 14 in the locked position enabling the projection 18 of arm 14 to act as a catch against the enlarged projection 54 of peg 50.

Interest in the game may be heightened for young children by shaping the upper section of peg 50 in the form of a caricature of a head, and by use of rules which require the winning player to call out, Heads Up" when he sucessfully locates the hidden true operator l4 and inserts a pin 52 into hole 35b above operator 14, depressing the pin 52, Pin 52 in the preferred embodiment is to be shaped in similar fashion to peg 50 with a caricature head 53 on the upper section. However, pin 52 as shown in FIG. 3 has a rounded tip 54A and is of uniform diameter below the head section 53.

Peg 60 has projections 61 as shown in FIG. 4 which rest n the surface of disc 40, when peg 60 is initially used to rotate the discs.

Since obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described herein without departing from the scope thereof, it is indicated that all matter contained herein is intended to be interpreted in an illustrative and not limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A game apparatus for encouraging manipulative skills in young children which consists of a first rotatable disc rotatable on the tip of an axial spindle said axial spindle being integral with the disc, a second rotatable disc rotatable about the same axis, the second disk having a skirt which slides, in a circular groove on the base member supporting the spindle such that the frictional torque resisting rotation is greater for the second rotatable disc than for the first rotatable disc, on its spindle means to cause both rotatable discs to rotate at the same initial angular velocity consisting of a pin which is inserted into a hole in each disc, said hole being at the same distance from the center of rotation of both discs, with the frictional differences permitting both rotatable discs to decelerate at different rates when the pin joining the two discs is removed, and provisions for concealing the. first rotatable disc from view by mounting it below the second rotatable disc, a concentric hole through the center of rotation of both discs extending into the axial spindle of the first rotatable disc together with a projectable peg which is insertable into the concentric holes through both discs, means to hold said peg against a compressed spring in the hollow spindle and manually operated means forchance release of the holding means.

2. A game apparatus as described in claim 1 in which the projectable peg, which is latched in place in the hollow spindle by said holding means is forcibly ejected by the action of the compressed spring when the latch member is released by the chance actuation of said manually operated means.

3. A game apparatus as described in claim 2 in which the latch release is actuated by pressure against a radial arm hingedly fastened to the exterior of said spindle, said radial arm being concealed from view of the operator of the game apparatus, and the actual location of the radial arm being determined by final rest position of the first rotatable disc.

means including an actuation pin to apply pressure against the radial arm through that particular hole in the base member which is directly lined up with the location of the radial arm so as to hingedly release the latch member and effect the ejection of the projectable peg from the hollow spindle if the actuation pin is by chance inserted into that particular said hole.

l l l 

1. A game apparatus for encouraging manipulative skills in young children which consists of a first rotatable disc rotatable on the tip of an axial spindle said axial spindle being integral with the disc, a second rotatable disc rotatable about the same axis, the second disk having a skirt which slides, in a circular groove on the base member supporting the spindle such that the frictional torque resisting rotation is greater for the second rotatable disc than for the first rotatable disc, on its spindle means to cause both rotatable discs to rotate at the same initial angular velocity consisting of a pin which is inserted into a hole in each disc, said hole being at the same distance from the center of rotation of both discs, with the frictional differences permitting both rotatable discs to decelerate at different rates when the pin joining the two discs is removed, and provisions for concealing the first rotatable disc from view by mounting it below the second rotatable disc, a concentric hole through the center of rotation of both discs extending into the axial spindle of the first rotatable disc together with a projectable peg which is insertable into the concentric holes through both discs, means to hold said peg against a compressed spring in the hollow spindle and manually operated means forchance release of the holding means.
 2. A game apparatus as described in claim 1 in which the projectable peg, which is latched in place in the hollow spindle by said holding means is forcibly ejected by the action of the compressed spring when the latch member is released by the chance actuation of said manually operated means.
 3. A game apparatus as described in claim 2 in which the latch release is actuated by pressure against a radial arm hingedly fastened to the exterior of said spindle, said radial arm being concealed from view of the operator of the game apparatus, and the actual location of the radial arm being determined by final rest position of the first rotatable disC.
 4. A game apparatus as described in claim 3 in which a portion of the projectable peg which is latched in place in the hollow spindle projects above the plane of both rotatable discs.
 5. A game apparatus as described in claim 3 in which the radial arm is concealed from view of the operator of the game apparatus by the base member, a series of holes in the base member, and said manually operated means including an actuation pin to apply pressure against the radial arm through that particular hole in the base member which is directly lined up with the location of the radial arm so as to hingedly release the latch member and effect the ejection of the projectable peg from the hollow spindle if the actuation pin is by chance inserted into that particular said hole. 